Game apparatus.



PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

R. D. MARTIN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION rum) JULY6,1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS 0.. wasnmurau, n. c

No. 828,825. PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

R. D. MARTIN.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLIOATION FILED JULYG, 1905.

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WITNESSES llVl/E/VTOR n-rs NORRIS Prrsns co., WASHINOTDI, v. c.

RALPH DIXON MARTIN, OF HAVANA, CUBA.

GAME APPARATUS Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14:, 1906.

Application filed July 6,1905. Serial No. 268,361.

To (I/ZZ whom it may OOH/0677b:

Be it known that I, RALPH DIXON MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Havana, Cuba, have invented a new and Improved Game Apparatus, of which the fol-. lowing is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to game apparatus in which a ball is caused to circle around a post with a view to reach different countingpoints on the base.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved game apparatus arranged to afford amusement and to require considerable skill in successfully playing the game.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the pivotal connection between the post and the ball-support. Fig. 4 is a plan view of a modified form of the improvement, and Fig. 5 is a like view of another modified form of the improvement,

On the base A of the game apparatus illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, is erected a central post, B, carrying at its upper end a vertical pivot-pin C, on which is hung an invertedcup-shaped pivot D, provided on its exterior at or near its face with an apertured lug D, engaged by one end of a flexible connection E, such as a cord or the like, the other end of the connection carrying a ball F.

On the upper surface of the base A are secured series of pins G, H, and I, preferably made of metal and of such length as to form retaining means for retaining the ball F between adjacent pins, as hereinafter more fully described, the pins also having sufificient yield to allow ready rebounding of the ball F when the latter strikes a pin. The series of pins G, H, and I are arranged in concentric circles around the post B, and the innermost series of pins G has two adjacent pins G and G spaced sufficiently far apart to form a gateway for the ball to pass between the said pins G and G to reach the post B. The remaining pins G are spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the ball F to form retaining means with a view to prevent the ball from passing to the post B.

The series of pins H consists, preferably, of pairs of pins, the pins in each pair being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the ball F, so that a pair of pins serves to retain the ball between them. The pairs of pins in the series of pins H are spaced apart a sufficient. distance to form a ready passage-way for the ball to pass between adjacent pairs.

The outermost series of pins I is similar to the series of pins H, and its pairs of pins are arranged alternately in a radial direction relative to the pairs of pins in the series of pins H.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that different values are given to the pins in the different series, the values being marked adjacent to the pins of the pairs thereof, as will be readily understood by reference to the drawings. a

In playing the game the player projects the ball so that the latter circles around the post B, as indicated, for instance, in dotted lines in Fig. 1, the ball gradually drawing nearer the outermost series of pins I, and the pins in this series either divert or catch the ball. If the ball is diverted, it bounces to the next series of pins H, in which the ball is either caught or diverted, so as to pass to the innermost series of pins G, on which the ball is either caught or by rebounding finds its way to the gateway between the pins G and G to finally reach the post B.

In the modified form illustrated in Fig. 4 the base A, the post B, the pivot D, the ball F, and its flexible connection E are the same as above described in reference to Figs. 1 and 2; but the series of pins are arranged differentlythat is, three concentric series of pins J, K, and L are provided, of which the two innermost series J and K have the pins arranged in pairs similar to the series of pins H and I, while the outermost series of pins L has pairs of pins L L and pins L between the adjacent pairs. The pins L and L are spaced sufiiciently far apart to exceed the diameter of the ball F, thus forming a gateway for the ball to pass through, while the pins L are spaced apart distances less than the diameter of the ball, so as to form retaining means for the same.

11 the modified form illustrated in Fig. 5

the post B, the pivot D, the ball F, and the connection E are the same as shown and described in Figs. 1 and 2, and the base A is provided with one series of pins N arranged in a circle near the circumference of the base, the pins being spaced apart a distance less than the diameter of the ball F, so that adjacent pins form retaining means for the said ball. The series of pins J, K, L, and N have values marked on the upper face of the board.

The values given to the series of pins in the different forms described depends mainly on three conditionsfirst, the distance of the pins from the post, the number of pins used in each series or group, and the distance two pins are spaced apart.

By reference to Figs. 1 and 2 it will be seen that the pins in the outer series of pins I are less liable to retain the ball F, so that their value is greater than that of the pins in the series of pins II and G.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 4 the outer series of pins L has numerous pins and few gateways for the ball to pass through, and hence these pins are more liable to retain the ball, and their value is correspondingly less than that of the series of pins K and J. If two pins are spaced close together, they are less liable to hold the ball than if they just prevented its passing through, and hence their value should'be comparatively greater, ir s will be readily understood by reference to Inusing the game apparatus it maybe used as a game of chance, in which the ball F is thrown at random, or it may be used as a game of skill, in which the object is to raise the ball and drop it between a chosen pair of pins. As a game of chance the game may be played by allowing the players to throw the ball alternately a given number of times, and the one making the highest number of points in the required number of throws wins. As a game of skill those points are counted in which the player succeeds in lodging the ball F as he nominates.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A game apparatus comprising a base, a post centrally thereon, a ball, a connection between the ball and the upper end of the post to. allow the ball to circle around the post, and spaced pins rising on the said base and arranged to retain the ball or to allow the ball to rebound, sundry of said pins being spaced apart a distance sufficient to permit the passage of the ball.

2. A game apparatus comprising a base, a post centrally thereon, a ball, a connection etween the ball and the upper end of the post to allow the ball to circle around the post, and retaining and scoring pins on the said base and arranged to allow the ballto rebound, some of the pins being spaced to form a pair of pins for retainin a ball be tween them.

3. A game apparatus comprising a base, a post centrally thereon, a ball, a connection between the ball and the upper end of the post, and a series of pins on the base and arranged in a circle around the post, a pair of adjacent pins forming a gateway for the ball to pass through to the post, the remaining pins being spaced apart to retain the ball between adjacent pins.

4. A game apparatus comprising a base, a post centrally thereon, a ball, a connection between the ball and the upper end of the post, a series of pins on the base and arranged in a circle around the post, a pair of adjacent pins forming a gateway for the ball to pass through to the post, the remaining pins being spaced apart to retain the ball between adjacent pins, and a second series of pins on the base and arranged in pairs outside of the firstnamed series of pins, the pins in each pair be ing spaced apart to retain the ball between them and the pairs being spaced apart to allow free passage of the ball.

5. A gameapparatus comprising a base, a post centrally thereon, a ball, a connection between the ball and the upper end of the post, a series of pins on the base and arranged in a circle around the post, a pair of adjacent pins forming a gateway for the ball to pass through to the post, the remaining pins being spaced apart to retain the ball between adjacent pins, a second series of pins on the base and arranged in pairs outside of the firstnamed series of pins, the pins in each pair be ing spaced apart to retain the ball between them and the pairs being spaced apart to allow free passage of the ball, and a third series of pins on the base arranged in pairs outside of the second-named series of pins, the pins in this series being arranged in pairs and the pins in each pair being spaced apart to retain the ball and the pairs of pins being spaced apart to form a free passage of the ball.

6. A game apparatus provided with a base,

- a post thereon, a pivot-pin on the upper end of the post, an invertedcupshaped pivot hung on the said pin, a ball, and a flexible connection between the said ball and the said pivot. v

7. A game apparatus providedwith a base, a post thereon, a pivot-pin on the upper end of the post, an inverted-cup-shaped pivot hung on the said pin and provided at its base with an exterior apertured lug, a ball, and a flexible connection between the said ball and the said apertured lug.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two' subscribing witnesses.

RALPH DIXON MARTIN.

' Witnesses: v O. W. STEWART, THOMAS M. KEENE. 

